How to Boost Your Instagram Reels Growth by Collaborating with Others

Collaborating with others on Instagram Reels is one of the fastest ways to grow your presence and expand your audience. With Instagram’s “Collabs” feature, two accounts can co-create a single reel that appears on both profiles, making it visible to the followers of each creator. This means more eyes on your content, higher engagement rates, and shared recognition for your creative efforts.

Whether you’re a content creator, brand, or business, using collaborations strategically can help you tap into new audiences, build stronger connections, and boost your visibility on the platform. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explore how to effectively collaborate on Instagram Reels, share tips for finding the right partners, and show you how to maximize the growth potential of each collaborative post.

Understanding How to Collaborate with Others on Instagram Reels

Instagram Collabs is a creative tool designed to bring users together. With this feature, two accounts can co-create and share a single reel, which then appears on both profiles and reaches followers of both users. This naturally increases reach, engagement, and visibility for everyone involved.

When a creator invites another user to collaborate, the collaborator’s name appears alongside the creator’s at the top of the reel. Both accounts share likes, comments, and other engagement metrics. The original creator maintains control over the post, but the collaborator can remove themselves at any time.

Collaboration functionality varies based on account privacy:

Public accounts can invite both public and private users.
Private accounts can invite both, but only if the collaborator follows them. If a private account invites a public user, the reel will still appear publicly via the public collaborator. Instagram provides private users with all relevant details before inviting collaborators.

Difference Between Collabs, Tags, and Mentions

Many people confuse collaborations with tags or mentions, but they are different:

Tagging adds a username but doesn’t share the reel with that user’s followers.
Mentions work only in stories and don’t appear on profiles.
Collaborations share one reel on two profiles with equal credit.

Because both creators appear as co-authors and get equal reach, the Collabs feature is perfect for influencers, brands, and everyday users looking to grow together.

Steps to Collaborate with Others on Instagram Reels

Creating a collaborative reel is straightforward and can be done directly within the Instagram app. However, it’s important to add collaborators before posting—once the reel is published, you cannot invite someone afterward.

How to Invite a Collaborator

Follow these steps to invite someone to collaborate on your reel:

Open Instagram and tap the Create (+) button.
Record or upload your reel and tap Next.
Add your caption, music, and hashtags.
Tap Tag People, then select Invite Collaborator.
Search for the username you want to add.
Tap Done, then Share the reel.

Once invited, the collaborator will receive a message in their inbox. If they accept, the reel will appear on both profiles, sharing engagement and visibility.

How to Accept or Decline a Collaboration Request

When someone invites you to collaborate, you’ll receive a message in Direct Messages. To respond:

Tap Messages at the top right corner of your feed.
Open the chat with the collaboration invite.
Tap the collaboration invitation and select Review to watch the reel.
Tap Accept or Decline based on your choice.

If accepted, the reel instantly appears on your profile, with both collaborators sharing likes, comments, and overall engagement.

ow to Remove a Collaborator on Instagram Reels

Sometimes you might need to remove a collaborator, either before or after publishing a reel. Here’s how to do it:

Removing a Collaborator Before Publishing

If you change your mind before sharing the reel:

Tap Tag People while editing the reel.
Tap Remove next to the collaborator’s username.
Tap Done to save your changes.

Removing a Collaborator After Publishing

If the reel is already live:

Open the reel you posted.
Tap the three dots (options) at the bottom right.
Select Manage and tap Edit.
Go to Tag People, then tap Remove next to the collaborator’s name.
Tap Done to confirm.

The removed collaborator will no longer appear on the reel, and it will only be visible on your profile.

Removing Yourself as a Collaborator

If you were added as a collaborator but want to remove yourself:

Open the reel on your profile.
Tap Options (three dots) in the corner.
Select Stop Sharing.
Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm.

Afterward, the reel will disappear from your profile but remain on the original creator’s account.

Rules and Privacy Settings When Collaborating on Instagram Reels

Instagram has clear privacy rules for collaboration, ensuring safety and control for both creators.

Who Can Invite Collaborators

Public accounts can invite anyone, whether public or private.
Private accounts can invite public or private accounts only if the invited user follows them.
When a private account collaborates with a public account, the reel will still appear publicly.

This system ensures that both users maintain control over their content visibility.

Important Guidelines for Collaborative Reels

The original creator is the main owner of the reel.
Only the creator can delete the reel. If deleted, it disappears from all collaborator profiles.
If the creator deactivates their account, the reel is removed everywhere but is restored once the account is reactivated.
If either creator blocks the other, the collaboration ends immediately.
Collaborators can leave at any time by stopping sharing.
Instagram may remove reels violating its Community Guidelines, and both creator and collaborator could face restrictions.

Multiple Collaborators

Some reels can include more than one collaborator, but the original creator always remains the main owner, retaining control over the post.

Benefits of Collaborating on Instagram Reels

Collaborative reels offer numerous advantages for creators, influencers, and brands:

Main Benefits

Double reach: The reel appears on both accounts’ profiles.
Shared engagement: Likes, comments, and other metrics are shared.
Equal recognition: Both names appear at the top of the reel.
More followers: Access another creator’s audience.
Community building: Strengthens relationships between creators.

Collaborations help creators grow naturally, while brands can reach new potential customers effectively.

When to Use Collaborative Reels

Brands partnering with influencers for product promotions.
Friends creating fun or entertaining reels together.
Creators participating in challenges or trend-based videos.
Businesses working with partners for joint promotions.

Collaborative reels often perform better than solo posts because they engage two audiences at once, making them an essential growth strategy on Instagram.

Things to Remember

You cannot add collaborators after posting.
Decide on collaboration before publishing.
Both accounts share visibility, but only the creator can delete the reel.
Keep reels relevant, creative, and compliant with Instagram’s rules.

Used wisely, the Collabs feature can boost visibility, grow engagement, and strengthen relationships on the platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Instagram Collabs?

Instagram Collabs is a feature that allows two accounts to co-create and share a single reel. The reel appears on both profiles, giving both creators shared visibility and engagement.

Can I add a collaborator after posting a reel?

No, collaborators must be added before publishing. Once the reel is live, you cannot invite someone later.

Who controls the reel?

The original creator is the main owner. They can delete the reel, and only the collaborator can remove themselves.

Can private accounts collaborate with public accounts?

Yes, but only if the private account is following the public account. When a private account invites a public user, the reel will appear publicly.

Can I remove myself as a collaborator?

Yes. Open the reel on your profile → Options (three dots) → Stop sharing → Confirm. The reel disappears from your profile but stays on the original creator’s account.

Can multiple collaborators be added to one reel?

Yes, but the original creator always retains full control over the post.

Conclusion

Collaborating on Instagram Reels is a powerful way to expand your reach, increase engagement, and grow your audience faster. By using the Collabs feature strategically, creators, brands, and businesses can share visibility, build stronger connections, and gain equal recognition for their content. Remember to plan collaborations before publishing, respect Instagram’s privacy rules, and keep your reels creative and relevant. Whether you’re partnering with friends, influencers, or other brands, collaborative reels offer a unique opportunity to tap into new audiences and strengthen your presence on the platform.